But Giovacchino Fortini will not.

Good heaven! I should expect to have my dear and honoured old friend and patron, your father, coming out of his grave to upbraid me.

Signor Marchese, you know right well--as well as I do myself--that at this time of day, I don't care two straws, as a mere matter of gain, whether I continue to be honoured with the transaction of your legal affairs or not.

But I do care on other grounds.

And I do implore you to believe that I am speaking to you more as a friend than as a lawyer;--that I am speaking to you as the whole city would speak, and will speak when it hears of this--this incredible--this monstrous notion,--when I entreat you to think yet further on this most disastrous purpose." Of course when a man speaks as Signor Fortini spoke to the Marchese, he does it not without some hope that his words may produce an effect on the person he addresses.